Picture-adjuster.



No. 660,938; Patentd Oct. 30, I900.

' n. W.'TOWER..

PICTURE ADJUSTER.

(Application filed July 9, 1900.)

(No model) U TE STATES ATENT FMCE. I

DANIEL W. TOWER, OF GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO THE GRAND RAPIDSBRASS COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

PICTURE-ADJUSTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 660,938, dated October30, 1900.

Application filed July 9. 1900.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, DANIEL W. TOWER, a citizen of the United States,residing'at Grand Rapids, in the county of Kent and State of Michigan,haveinvented new and useful Innprovements in Picture-Adjusters, of whichthe following is a specification.

This invention relates to picture-hangers, and has for its object toprovide an exceedingly simple, light, strong, and durable picture-hangerwhich will be efficient in operation and which may be manufactured atsmall cost.

To these ends myinventiou consists in the features and in theconstruction,co1nbination, and arrangement of parts hereinafterdescribed, and particularly pointed out in the claims, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification,wherein Figure l is a view in front elevation of my improved hanger.Fig. 2 is an edge View of the same. Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken onthe line 00 or of Fig. 1. Figs. 4, 5, and 6 are views illustrating threediiierentways of applying the hanger.

Referring to the drawings, the reference- I letterA indicates a plate,preferably of sheet metal and of any form and size suitable for thepurpose, said plate being bent up at a right angle on one side to form aflange a, and said flange is provided with an integral ear or lug e,which is bent at a right angle thereto and into parallelism with theplate A for the purpose hereinafter made apparent. Said flange is alsoprovided on its edge with an overhanging or undercut lip or tongue 6.

The letter B indicates a winding-drum, preferably stamped up from anintegral blank of sheet metal and provided with an annular flange b,having ratchet-teeth b formed on its periphery. The drum B, is seated onthe plate A and is rotatably secured thereon by a rivet C. Formed in theperiphery of the barrel of the drum is a perforation J, through whichthe end of the pictur -cord is passed and is then knotted to secure thecord to the drum. Passing through and secured in the base or plate A andthe ear or lug e isa rivet or pin E, on which is journaled one end of apawl comprising a flat sheet-metal plate D,

Serial No. 23.040. (No model.)

the upper end of which is arranged tooscillate beneath the overhanginglip or tonge e, which operates to hold the pawl in operative position toengage the ratchet-teeth b. The pawl D is provided on its inner edgenear its free end with an integral beveled projection F, forming a tooththat engages the ratchetteeth of the drum,'and on the opposite edgeofsaid pawl is an integral lip or lug I, that is bent at a. right angle tothe pawl, as most clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3 of thedrawings. Formedin the flange a near one end thereof are two apertures a, through whichis inserted one end of a wire spring H, the other or free end of whichimpinges and bears against the lip orlug I of the pawl and holds thetooth F of the latter in engagement with the ratchet-teeth bof the drumB.

Usually-but one'of the hangers is employed with each picture. As shownin Fig. 4, the base-plate A is attached to the rear of the picture-frameon one side by screws or other suitable fastenings. One end of thepicturecord is attached to the drum in the manner before described andis wound about the same, while the other end of the cord is attached inthe usual mannerto the oppositeside of the pic titre-frame. The cord issuspended from a picture-nail orother suitable support in the usualmanner, and when so suspended the picture may be readily raised andlowered to adjust it to the desired height. To raise the picture, it isonly necessary to rotate the drum in the proper direction to wind thecord thereon, and to lower it the pawl is disengaged fromthe'ratchet-teeth of the drum, when the weight of the picture will causethe cord to unwind from the drum, or a slight downward pull on thepicture may be necessary. For convenience in disengaging the pawl fromthe rachetteeth said pawl is provided on its outer side with a lug orlip G, which is bent outward at a right angle to the pawl to form athumbpiece, which may be readily engaged by the finger or thumb toretract the pawl against the tension of the spring H.

In Fig. 5 I have shown the hanger arranged in substantially the same.manner as that above described, excepting that instead of attaching thedrum to the side of the pictureframe it is attached centrally to theupper end of the same. One end of the cord is attached to the side ofthe frame, as before, and the other end is passed through a screw-eye itor other suitable guide, and thence passes to the drum, about which itis wound.

When the picture-frame is unusually large or heavy, two drums may beemployed, one being attached to each side of the pictureframe, as shownin Fig. 6, a cord being provided for each drum, one end of each cordbeing attached to its drum and the other end to the picture-frame.

I have described myimproved hanger as being employed for hangingpictures; but it will be evident that it can be employed equally as welland without alteration for hanging mirrors and other articles offurniture and the like.

Having described my invention, what I claim is- 1. In a picture-hanger,the combination with a base comprising a plate having at one side anupturned flange provided on its outer edge with an undercut oroverhanging lug or lip, a winding-drum rotatably mounted on the base andprovided on its periphery with ratchet-teeth, and a pivoted pawlconstructed at its free end to engage said ratchet-teeth and arranged tooscillate between the said overhanging lip or tongue and the edge of theflange, substantially as described 2. In a picture-hanger, thecombination with a base comprising a plate having at one side anupturned flange, a drum rotatably mounted on the base and provided onits periphery with ratchet-teeth,a pivoted pawl constructed at its freeend to engage said ratchetteeth and provided on its outer edge with alip or lug bent at a right angle to the pawl, and a spring inserted atone end in apertures formed in said flange and at its free end bearingagainst the lip or lug on the pawl to hold the latter in engagement withthe ratchetteeth, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

DANIEL W. TOWER.

Witnesses:

EDWARD TAGGART, JAMES B. DAVIES.

